How to Construct Wall Mounted Brackets for Floating Shelves

The construction of floating shelves is different from other types of shelving because the brackets and the supports for the shelf aren’t seen when you look at the shelving system. Instead, floating shelves are supported by wall-mounted brackets secured against the wall behind the shelf. The design of a floating shelf wall-mounting bracket is what determines whether your floating shelves will remain sturdy. Construct wall mounted brackets for floating shelves out of sturdy materials so your shelf remains stable for years to come.

Things You'll Need

2-by-4-inch wood pieces

Tape measure

Circular saw

Carpenter’s pencil

Level

Stud finder

Construction glue

Hammer

Nail

Drill

Screws

Cut 2-by-4s to the length of your floating shelf. This piece of wood is the wall-mounted bracket for your floating shelf. A sturdy floating shelf system requires one board, cut to the appropriate length, per shelf.

Determine where you will mount the floating shelf wall-mounting bracket. Draw a line on the wall where you will install your shelf, using a level to make sure the line is straight.

Run a stud finder along your line to locate the studs behind the wall. The design of a floating shelf wall-mounting bracket requires you to secure the bracket to a stud, which helps the shelf remain stable. Mark the location of each stud so you know where to drill when you mount your wall-mounting bracket onto the wall.

Apply a generous portion of construction glue to the back of your bracket and affix it to the wall in the location you chose.

Hammer a nail into the middle of your wall-mounting bracket to help hold it up against the wall. Get out your level again and adjust the bracket up or down to double check that it’s level.

Drill screws through your wall mounting bracket and into the studs you marked previously. Drill one screw into each stud to make sure your shelf is as sturdy as possible.